A former correspondent of Mirror and an award-winning journalist, Alpheus Siebane, is no more…

Siebane, 52, who was co-presented with the Vodacom Best Journalist Award in 2002 with Anna-Marie Lombard for the investigative work they did for Special Assignment, passed away on February 26, at the Kalafong Hospital in Pretoria and, according to his wife, Pauline, he died of lung cancer.

She said the cancer was diagnosed in November 2003, when he was operated on at the Eugene Marais Hospital. “Although he was okay after operation, it then came back strongly last year in December when he came in and out of the hospital until he was admitted at Kalafong two weeks before his death, where he stayed until his death,” she explained.

Siebane was laid to rest on March 5, at his home village of Ha-Matsa, in Nzhelele. He is survived by his wife, Pauline, a chief professional nurse at Siloam Hospital, six children, Lufuno, twins Sedzani and Hulisani, Talifhani, Mukhethwa and Mushoni.

Siebane, the first born in the family of five children, also left his mother, Salina Siebane, 71, and siblings, Donald Siebane, Sylvia Mukwevho, Agnes Tshivhidzo and Livhuwani Siebane.

He dropped out at grade 10 at Madibane High in Diepkloof and passed his matric in 1988, through correspondence. In the early 70’s, he joined Gibson Kente where he played in several dramas like How Long?

In 1977, he also wrote his own drama, Right Is Wrong, before he joined Sam Mangwani where he continued playing and writing dramas like Our Life is on fire.

Siebane then left Gauteng for Limpopo in the early 90’s where he produced radio dramas for the then Radio Thohoyandou. He also wrote his own dramas that were broadcast on the same station.

Siebane later joined Mirror, where he worked until 2000, when he joined the Sunday Times.

In 2002, he joined Special Assignment, where he won the Vodacom award for the investigative work they did on the selling of human body parts. The same story was also considered for the CNN award in the same year.

In 2003, Siebane left Special Assignment for Discovery Health, where he worked in the investigation unit until his death.

The chairperson of the Limpopo Media Association and Sunday Sun Bureau Chief based in Polokwane, Ndivhuwo Musetha said: "The death of Siebane is a great loss to the media fraternity and the community at large." Siebane was a fearless journalist who was committed in helping the community at all costs through his investigative journalism. It is unfortunate that his handiwork and commitment were only rewarded with the Vodacon award.

"It is still amazing that Siebane was never honoured in his own backyard besides all the good work he was doing from the local level up until the national level. I also hope that young journalists will take it upon themselves to take over where he left off, so that his spirit will leave with us forever," said Musetha.